Coccidioidomycosis in Tulare County, California, 1991: reemergence of an endemic disease

Durry, Elias; Pappagianis, Demosthenes; Werner, S. Benson; Hutwagner, Lori; Sun, R.K.P.; Maurer, Mathew S.; McNeil, Michael M.; Pinner, Robert W.

doi:10.1080/02681219780001361

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This is documented most extensively for coccidioidomycosis, which is spread by dust, often preceded by increased rain (86,87). A well-documented outbreak of coccidioidomycosis followed the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake (88).…”

Section: Natural Allergens and Fungal Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Air Pollution-Related Health Effects in the United States

Bernard¹,

Samet²,

Grambsch³

et al. 2001

Environmental Health Perspectives

174

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Section: Natural Allergens and Fungal Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Air Pollution-Related Health Effects in the United States

Bernard¹,

Samet²,

Grambsch³

et al. 2001

Environmental Health Perspectives

174

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“…In Tulare County, California, in 1991, 27% of patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis were hospitalized; independent risk factors for hospitalization in a multivariate analysis included male sex, black and Asian races, and age older than 20 years. 48 Among 113 Navy personnel hospitalized for pulmonary or extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis, black or Filipino race (compared with white) was the strongest risk factor for hospitalization (odds ratio, 7; 95% confidence For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings a .…”

Section: Risk Of Hospitalization and Deathmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coccidioidomycosis in African Americans

Ruddy

Mayer

et al. 2011

Mayo Clinic Proceedings

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Coccidioidomycosis is caused by Coccidioides species, a fungus endemic to the desert regions of the southwestern United States, and is of particular concern for African Americans. We performed a PubMed search of the English-language medical literature on coccidioidomycosis in African Americans and summarized the pertinent literature. Search terms were coccidioidomycosis, Coccidioides, race, ethnicity, African, black, and Negro. The proceedings of the national and international coccidioidomycosis symposia were searched. All relevant articles and their cited references were reviewed; those with epidemiological, immunologic, clinical, and therapeutic data pertaining to coccidioidomycosis in African Americans were included in the review. Numerous studies documented an increased predilection for severe coccidioidal infections, coccidioidomycosis-related hospitalizations, and extrapulmonary dissemination in persons of African descent; however, most of the published studies are variably problematic. The immunologic mechanism for this predilection is unclear. The clinical features and treatment recommendations are summarized. Medical practitioners need to be alert to the possibility of coccidioidomycosis in persons with recent travel to or residence in an area where the disease is endemic.

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“…Major outbreaks occurred in southern California in 1977 and late 1991 through 1994 (105,221). A new resurgence is indicated by the increase in coccidioidomycosis cases during the past year in Arizona (50).…”

Section: Coccidioidomycosis (San Joaquin Valley Fever) Is a Mycotic Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coccidioidomycosis is considered to be a reemerging disease because of the dramatic increase in the number of cases during the early part of the past decade (47,52,105,157,207,219,260,282). Between 1991 and 1994, there was a notable increase of new cases in California, in particular in Kern and Tulare counties in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley (219).…”

Section: Clinical Manifestations Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Coccidioidomycosis: Host Response and Vaccine Development

2004

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Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the dimorphic fungi in the genus Coccidioides. These fungi live as mycelia in the soil of desert areas of the American Southwest, and when the infectious spores, the arthroconidia, are inhaled, they convert into the parasitic spherule/endospore phase. Most infections are mild, but these organisms are frank pathogens and can cause severe lethal disease in fully immunocompetent individuals. While there is increased risk of disseminated disease in certain racial groups and immunocompromised persons, the fact that there are hosts who contain the initial infection and exhibit long-term immunity to reinfection supports the hypothesis that a vaccine against these pathogens is feasible. Multiple studies have shown that protective immunity against primary disease is associated with T-helper 1 (Th-1)-associated immune responses. The single best vaccine in animal models, formalin-killed spherules (FKS), was tested in a human trial but was not found to be significantly protective. This result has prompted studies to better define immunodominant Coccidioides antigen with the thought that a subunit vaccine would be protective. These efforts have defined multiple candidates, but the single best individual immunogen is the protein termed antigen 2/proline-rich antigen (Ag2/PRA). Studies in multiple laboratories have shown that Ag2/PRA as both protein and genetic vaccines provides significant protection against mice challenged systemically with Coccidioides. Unfortunately, compared to the FKS vaccine, it is significantly less protective as measured by both assays of reduction in fungal CFU and assays of survival. The capacity of Ag2/PRA to induce only partial protection was emphasized when animals were challenged intranasally. Thus, there is a need to define new candidates to create a multivalent vaccine to increase the effectiveness of Ag2/PRA. Efforts of genomic screening using expression library immunization or bioinformatic approaches to identify new candidates have revealed at least two new protective proteins, expression library immunization antigen 1 (ELI-Ag1) and a β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase (GEL-1). In addition, previously discovered antigens such as Coccidioides-specific antigen (CSA) should be evaluated in assays of protection. While studies have yet to be completed with combinations of the current candidates, the hypothesis is that with increased numbers of candidates in a multivalent vaccine, there will be increased protection. As the genome sequences of the two Coccidioides strains which are under way are completed and annotated, the effort to find new candidates can increase to provide a complete genomic scan for immunodominant proteins. Thus, much progress has been made in the discovery of subunit vaccine candidates against Coccidioides and there are several candidates showing modest levels of protection, but for complete protection against pulmonary challenge we need to continue the search for additional candidates

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Coccidioidomycosis in Tulare County, California, 1991: reemergence of an endemic disease

Cited by 33 publications

References 9 publications

The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Air Pollution-Related Health Effects in the United States

The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Air Pollution-Related Health Effects in the United States

Coccidioidomycosis in African Americans

Coccidioidomycosis: Host Response and Vaccine Development

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